Revere Ware 8-Cup Drip Coffee Maker, circa 1965

Drip-and-filter coffeemakers made consistently better coffee than the easier-to-use percolators found in most homes before the 1970s. They brought the coffee grounds into contact with the water just once, producing the best flavor. But they weren't as convenient. The water first had to be boiled in a separate device--and monitored closely for transfer to the coffeemaker when it reached just the right temperature.